KMTC Raises Key Priorities During Strategic Consultative Meeting with Clinical Officers Council
Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) on Thursday, February 12, 2026, outlined key strategic priorities aimed at strengthening Clinical Medicine and Surgery training during a three-day consultative meeting with the Clinical Officers Council (COC) in Machakos County.
Speaking on behalf of the CEO, Dr. Kelly Oluoch, the Deputy Director, Finance, Planning and Administration, Ms. Lucy Chebungei, noted that demand for Clinical Medicine programmes remains high despite the College’s capacity constraints. “The demand for Clinical Medicine continues to grow, and as an institution, we must align our capacity with national health workforce needs,” she said.
Ms. Chebungei observed that some enrolled students have not yet been fully indexed in regulatory and national systems, which has affected their clinical placements and progression.
“Timely indexing is critical to ensure our students transition smoothly into clinical training and complete their programmes without unnecessary delays,” she emphasized.
On campus accreditation, she stated that the College is seeking approval to accredit additional campuses to offer the Clinical Medicine programme, with plans to expand access beginning in March 2026.
“Expanding accreditation will allow us to increase access while maintaining quality standards,” she noted.
Regarding faculty capacity, Ms. Chebungei proposed appointing contracted lecturers to reduce the student-lecturer ratio and enhance supervision during practical and clinical training.
“Strengthening faculty support will improve supervision and safeguard the quality of hands-on clinical instruction,” she added.
In response, COC CEO and Registrar Mr. Ibrahim Wako welcomed the proposals and reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to upholding regulatory standards.
“Our mandate is to ensure institutions meet the required standards so that we produce competent and ethical clinical officers,” he said.
The meeting, which kicked off on Tuesday, brought together leadership from KMTC, the Clinical Officers Council, and the Ministry of Health to deliberate on accreditation requirements, regulatory compliance, curriculum alignment, and strategies to strengthen training quality.
Dr. Saleh Bardad, Head of Specialized Clinical Services at the Ministry of Health, underscored the central role of clinical officers in delivering essential health services, particularly in underserved areas. “Strong collaboration between regulators and training institutions is key to sustaining quality and protecting public safety,” he stated.
